Police to focus on Gridley, Chico during crackdown on drunken driving

Enforcement operations to crack down on driving under the influence will take place in Gridley and Chico from Aug. 21 to Aug. 31, according to authorities

The Avoid the 8 Task Force announced Thursday that it would conduct saturation patrols to find suspected drunken drivers in the Gridley area from Aug. 21 to Aug. 24, and then would focus on Chico on Aug. 29 and Aug. 31.

The local crackdown is part of a statewide effort, which will include more than 300 checkpoints throughout California.

Also, starting Friday, the Avoid the 8 will be conducting a countywide crackdown on driving under the influence scheduled to end Sept. 1.

A checkpoint, a multi-agency deployment task force and multiple saturation patrols are planned for the enforcement period, according to a press release from Paradise Police Department Lt. Steve Rowe.